Staats Long Morris

Staats Long Morris (August 27, 1728 – 1800), was an American colonist who served as a major-general in the British army during the American Revolution. He was born in Morrisiana, New York, the grandson of Lewis Morris (the first governor of New Jersey), the brother of Lewis Morris (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), and the half-brother of Gouverneur Morris (an author of the United States Constitution).

In March 1756, Morris married the widowed Lady Catherine Gordon (Duchess of Gordon), daughter of William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen and Lady Susan Murray. [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p2582.htm ThePeerage.com entry] ] On May 31, 1756, he joined the British army and became captain of the 36th foot. He was quickly promoted lieutenant-colonel in the 89th Highlanders, with which he served at the siege of the French colony of Pondicherry, India in 1761. On July 7, 1763, he was made brigadier-general, in 1777 he obtained major-general, and in 1796 he became a general.

Morris became a member of the British Parliament, representing Elgin, [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p2582.htm ThePeerage.com entry] ] . He was buried in an unmarked grave in the nave of Westminster Abbey in 1800.

References

* [http://www.data-wales.co.uk/morris.htm Data-Wales: The Morris family of Tintern and Piercefield in south Wales]
* [http://www.virtualology.com/declarationofindependence/LewisMorris.com Virtualology: Lewis Morris, Signer of the Declaration of Independence]
*
*James J. Kirschke, "Gouverneur Morris: Author, Statesman, and Man of the World", p. 158
* [http://www.westminster-abbey.org/library/links/american.htm American links with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's Church]